A storyline in Hollyoaks involving leaking carbon monoxide has helped to save a woman's life.

Beth Cordingly claims that watching a recent episode of the Channel 4 show alerted her to the cause of her vomiting and persistent headaches.

The episode featured a house party held by student Jessica Harris (Jennifer Biddall), which finished with several characters becoming drowsy, being sick and collapsing.

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In the show, Harris had hired the services of Danny Valentine (David Judge) to fix a faulty gas boiler and his botched handiwork caused a leak that led to several characters, including Katy Fox (Hannah Tointon), nearly dying.

Cordingly had originally believed she was suffering from a mystery illness but recognised her symptoms as she watched the soap.

She told the Daily Express: "The only respite I had in the middle of all my pain was Hollyoaks. I can’t believe I owe my life to it. As the episode unravelled I saw myself on screen.

"The hospital staff told me I was lucky to be alive. They said that if I’d have left it another 24 hours I’d be dead. I still feel ill, but they said it takes about two weeks to get the gas out of the body."

She added: "I just want everyone on Hollyoaks to know how grateful I am. People say watching too much telly is bad for you, but in my case it’s saved my life."

Producer Bryan Kirkwood commented: "Hollyoaks is constantly being recognised for hard-hitting and engaging storylines to which viewers can relate. We are delighted this one helped to save a life."